The Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer

The Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer
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Introduction

In the early stages of lung cancer, up to 25% of patients report experiencing no symptoms at all. Their lung cancer was first identified with a routine CT scan or chest x-ray. This illustrates the importance of not only paying attention to the early symptoms of lung cancer, but also of getting regular physical examinations and testing.

Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer

The following is a compilation of the early lung cancer symptoms that may occur, regardless of type.

  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough – persistent or chronic
  • Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
  • Paralysis of the vocal chords
  • Hoarseness
  • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Chest pain
  • Joint pain
  • Bone tenderness or pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Drooping eyelid
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Wheezing
  • Facial swelling
  • Facial paralysis
  • Fever
  • Nail problems such as clubbing (thickening of flesh under nails; nail curves downward)
  • Sound of fluid around lungs heard through a stethoscope

Testing for Lung Cancer

If the aforementioned symptoms are present, a physician may order any number of tests for verification of the cause. These tests include chest x-ray, MRI, CT scan, PET scan, CBC, bone scan, sputum test, biopsy or thoracentesis. If cancer is present, more tests may be done to determine the stage of the cancer.

The Stages of Lung Cancer

The early symptoms of lung cancer range from Stage 0, which means the cancer is not present beyond the lung’s inner lining to Stage IV, which indicates that the cancer has spread to other organs (brain, liver, other lung).

Summary

The early symptoms of lung cancer can be indicative of other medical conditions, so medical consultation is important when these symptoms are present.

The risk of lung cancer is highest for smokers, with a full 85 percent of all cases being caused by it. Those exposed to second-hand smoke and those who work around or have been exposed to asbestos, arsenic, chloride, formaldehyde and some alloys also are at higher risk than the average person. Certain preservatives, paints and pigments can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

Further Reading

New “Early-Detection” Test Developed for Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Drugs

References

Lung Cancer – Small Cell. U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Last updated August 9, 2009 by David C. Dugdale, III, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000122.htm

Lung Cancer. U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Last updated September 14, 2009 by Yi-Bin Chen, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007270.htm

Lung Cancer – Non-Small Cell. U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Last updated September 14, 2009 by Yi-Bin Chen, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007194.htm

Lung Cancer. Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD. Edited by Jay W. Marks, MD. Last reviewed January 20, 2010. https://www.medicinenet.com/lung_cancer/article.htm